Oil-fired weevil control burner



United States Patent 721 Inventors Orvis A. Davis, SIX,

Gibsonia and William E. Kramer, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [21 1 Appl. No.774,859 [22} Filed Nov. 12, 1968 [45] Patented Oct. 20, 1970 [73]Assignee Gulf Research & Development Company Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania acorporation of Delaware [54] OIL-FIRED WEEVIL CONTROL BURNER 16 Claims,8 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 126/2711, 43 l 3 5 3 [51] 1nt.Cl A0lm15/00 F23c 5/00 [50]Field ofSearch 126/2712,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 517,191 3/1894 Perkins126/271.2A 1,500,340 7/1924 Smith 126/271.2A 1,581,406 4/1926 Stebbins126/271 .2A 3,160,154 12/1964 Sowcll 126/271 .2A 3,362,397 1/1968 Murphy126/271 .2A 3,404,676 10/1968 Walker et all l26/271.2C

Primary Examiner-Charles .1. Myhre Attorneys-Meyer Neishloss, Deane E.Keith and William Kovensky ABSTRACT: A flame cultivator adapted to besupported on and moved by a farm tractor comprising a hover and manifoldassembly, with a dual purpose tank to supply primary air and pressurizedfuel to nozzles carried on the manifold, and means to supply secondaryair around the nozzles to support combustion and create a hightemperature under the hover.

Patented Oct. 20, 1970 Sheet of 5 mvmons aews 14.04105, .59.

WILL/AM z. mauee Pam-tad 0a. 20. 197i Sheet INVENTORSi ORV/5 A. DAV/6,6R.

WILL/AM 5.1(QJWER Patented Oct. 20, 1970 Sheet lA/VENTORS.

Patented 0a. 20, 1970 W/LL/AM E. KRAMER Patented Oct. 20, 1 970 Sheet0910.5 ,4. DAV/S 5R. 14 11.; MM E. KRAMER OIL-FIRED WEEVIL CONTROLBURNER This invention pertains to control ofcertain pests and weeds inthe cultivation of commercial crops. More in particular, the inventionconcerns a flame cultivator wherein heat and flame are used to eliminatecertain pests and weeds. Still more particularly, the invention pertainsto a flame cultivator for use in exterminating a particular weevil thatinfects alfalfa.

Alfalfa is an important grasslike crop widely grown for hay and forage.Once a field is established and regularly fertilized, a crop may be outtwo or three times a year, and the remaining stubble will grow backwithout further planting. The alfalfa weevil lays its eggs in the cutstubble above the ground after the alfalfa has been harvested. If notcontrolled, this pest will destroy the plants and the field. Researchhas shown that heat will destroy the weevil eggs, exposure totemperatures of at least l50F. for as short a time as one/tenth of asecond have proven effective in this task.

An important consideration, from the farmers or users" viewpoint, is thecost of flame cultivation. It is therefore important that the weevileggs be destroyed at a total cost, including fuel, equipment rental,labor, and the like, which is as low as possible. The present inventionprovides a flame cultivator which may be moved by conventional farmtractors at a relatively high speed through a field to minimize totalcost. The invention provides apparatus for the effective burning of fueland means to contain the flame in a relatively small region to produce arelatively high temperature in said region which may be moved rapidly tothereby minimize the fuel cost.

The invention utilizes a special nozzle which produces a flat flame, andwhich is adapted to effectively burn many different kinds of liquidfuel, to thereby lend versatility, as to fuel selection, to the user orfarmer.

The invention comprises a self-contained flame cultivator adapted toburn a wide variety of fuels, and adapted for controlling many differenttypes of pests and weeds. The ap paratus comprises a structural assemblywhich cradles a tank. The tank serves as both a fuel reservoir and asurge tank for air supplied by a compressor to the top portion of thetank. Thus, the pressurized air serves to both drive the fuel and as areceiver and sump for air for use in the nozzles as primary air. Mountedon the tank is a power group including a prime mover which may be anelectric or hydraulic motor, in addition to the preferred internalcombustion engine. The power group also includes an air compressor, amagneto or other source of electrical energy for ignition purposes, anda low pressure, high volume air blower to supply secondary air to thenozzles under the hover.

The structural assembly also includes means to mount a hover andmanifold assembly. This assembly includes a plurality of the nozzles andan equal number of flame spreaders, and means to contain the flameproduced in the relatively small region under the hover to produce ahigh temperature therein to permit rapid cultivation. Means are alsoprovided on the structural assembly to permit attachment of theselfcontained flame cultivator of the invention to a conventionalthree-point hitch on farm tractors, and means to connect the hoverraising apparatus, which includes a hydraulic cylinder, to the utilityhydraulic outlet on such tractors.

The above and other advantages of the invention will be pointed out orwill become evident in the following detailed description and claims,and in the accompanying drawing also forming a part of the disclosure,in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of the flame cultivator of theinvention with some parts broken away and in cross section, and otherparts indicated diagrammatically;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view particularly showing the hover;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the hover;

FIG. Sis a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the interaction of themanifold and the power group, and the power train in the power group;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a portion ofthe manifold showing a flamespreader and nozzle; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 88 of FIG. 7.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a preferredembodiment of the flame cultivator ofthe invention. For ease ofdescription, the apparatus has been divided into several portions, andeach portion will be described individually, as far as possible.Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises a structural portion12 which carries a tank assembly 14. Mounted on tank assembly 14 are agroup of components which supply fuel, air, and electricity, and whichshall be designated as the power group I6 herein. At the rear end ofstructural assembly I2 is a hover and manifold as sembly I8. Forreference purposes, looking at FIG. 2, the right side shall bedesignated the front end of the apparatus. and the left side shall bedesignated the rear end, because in use a tractor would pull theapparatus of the invention from left to right.

Tank assembly 14 comprises a pressure vessel 20. In the successfullybuilt embodiment of the invention, pressure vessel 20 comprises a steelcompressed air tank of 60 gallon capacity, manufactured by the DeVilbiss Company of Toledo. Ohio. Vessel 20 comprises an integral fillpipe 22. and an outlet 24 at the bottom. A fuel supply line 26. whichfeeds the fuel under pressure from vessel 20 to the nozzles, extendsfrom outlet 24 via a shut off valve and fuel filter device 28. Outlet 24extends a short way into the tank to prevent entry of sediment. Amanually operated drain valve 30 is provided for cleaning and the likepurposes, and has direct access to outlet 24. On one end wall vessel 20is provided with a threaded nipple 32 which carries an air snorkel tube34, which extends into the vessel. Tube 34 curves upwardly andterminates closely adjacent the top or highest portion of the vesselwhen the apparatus is in use. The function of air snorkel tube 34 willbe explained in more detail below. At its outer end tube 34 carries anoutlet manifold and instrument group 36 which includes a manuallyoperated main outlet valve which controls and regulates the flow ofpressurized air through a line 38 which feeds the nozzles with primaryair, as will be described in more detail below. Group 36 also includes asafety relief valve which will unload the pressure in the tank when itexceeds design pressure. A pressure gauge is also provided in group 36so that the pressure of the fuel flowing through line 26 to the nozzlescan be known. Group 36 also includes an adjustable automatic unloader,which is a fairly standard pneumatic component. By adjustment of thisunloader, the compressor, which operates continuously, is permitted tomaintain only the predetermined pressure set on the unloader in theusual manner. A pneumatic check valve is provided between the tank andthe compressor at the discharge of the compressor and acts to seal thetank to permit no load starting of the compressor. A standard pneumaticoutlet manifold, not shown, is also provided on the tank. Thus, the fuelmay be supplied at tank pressure and the air at a lower, regulatedpressure.

Vessel 20 is mounted on a pair of cradle members 40 forming part ofstructural portion I2. At their rear ends, each cradle member 40 carriesa bar holder assembly 42, in which is removably and adjustably mounted asquare cross section bar 44. Removably and adjustably mounted on bar 44is a hitch member 46, which provides the upper connection point of thestandard 3 -point farm hitch. The other two hitch members, not shown,are connected to bar 44, whereby the cultivator 10 of the invention isadapted to be attached to a farm tractorwith the weight of the apparatusof the invention supported by the tractor via the three hitch members onbar 44, in the conventional manner.

At its front end, each cradle member 40 carries a bearing 48, whichbearings rotatably mount a hover mounting shaft 50. Rotatably mounted onhover mounting shaft 50, closely adjacent the bearings 48, are the rearends of a pair of hover lift arms 52. The arms 52 carry the hover andmanifold assembly 18 at their rear ends, by means of tabs 54 and pinconnections 56 which cooperate with mating tabs 58 on the hover.

Means are provided to lift the hover with respect to the eradle 40 abouthover mounting shaft 50, while simultaneously providing means toaccommodate minor motions of the hover induced in it by its passageacross a field when it is in the down or operating position withoutdisturbing the hover lifting means. To this end, a pneumatic cylinder 60is provided and has its end anchor tab 62 rotatably mounted by means ofa pin 64 to an anchor assembly 66 mounted on square bar 44. Theoperating shaft 68 of cylinder 60 carries a tab 70 rigidly fixed theretoas by welding or other suitable means, and a pin 72 provides a rotatableconnection between tab 70 and the outer end of one arm 74 of a bellcrank assembly 76. As is known, cylinder 60 comprises intake and exhaustvalves, and a supply hose, all not shown. The cylinder hose may beconnected to the utility pneumatic outlet of the tractor with which theeultivator of the invention is being used, whereby the operator mayraise and lower the hover from the tractor scat during operation. Bellcrank 76 comprises a cylindrical hub portion 78 which encircles and isfixed to hover mounting shaft 50. At its other end, hub 78 mounts asecond bell crank arm 80. At its other end shaft 50 carries a crank arm82 fixedly mounted thereon. A lift shaft 84 interconnects the outer endsof the two crank arms 80 and 82. Hover lift arms 52 are ofl" beamconfiguration, and the web ofeach arm is formed with an enlarged opening86 which receives the lift shaft 84 but is of a diameter substantiallylarger than the diameter of said lift shaft. The rear ends of the arms52 are formed with hub portions 88 which closely but loosely encirclethe mounting shaft 50. Thus, when the hover and manifold assembly 18 isin use and encounters an obstacle such as a mound or a rock or the like,it may move freely, about shaft 50 on hubs 88, within the limits definedby the oversized openings 86 without effecting arms 80 and 82 and thecylinder 60.

Referring now to H05. 3, 4, and 5, hover and manifold assembly 18comprises a hover 90 and a manifold 92. Hover 90 serves to contain theheat produced from the combustion of the fuel to provide a relativelysmall region of relatively high temperature whereby a field may berapidly flame cultivated. Generally, the hover is rectangular in planview and triangular in cross-sectional elevation, with the sidestapering slightly upwardly. As an indication of orders of magnitude andnot as a limitation, in the successfully constructed embodiment of theinvention used to flame cultivate alfalfa, the overall outsidedimensions of the hover are about 8 feet wide, 4 feet long, 14 incheshigh at the highest part, and inches high to the top of the skirts atthe trailing end, described below. The construction is, basically, anangle iron weldment with a sheet metal skin.

The hover moves through the field on a pair of side skids 94 havingcurved front and rear ends 96. As described above, the lifting mechanismincluding cylinder 60 and bell crank 76 allow the entire weight of thehover to rest on the skids when the apparatus is in use, and the hoversown weight, with the manifold, is sufficient to keep it in close contactwith the ground. The curved portions 96 prevent the hover from catchingor hanging up on obstacles in the field. Along the outside of each skid94, the hover comprises a side supporting plate 98 which is welded atits bottom end to the side flange of each skid. The upper front and rearends of the side plates are interconnected by front and rear crossmember angle irons 100 and 102, respectively. Joined to the upper end offront cross piece 100 is a manifold mounting plate 104 which carries anupper front cross piece angle iron 106. Rear cross piece 102 and upperfront cross piece 106 are interconnected by six angularly disposedbracing piece angle irons 108. Top skin member 110 of sheet metal coversthe bracing pieces I08, and a pair of triangularly shaped sheet metalskin members 112 close off the area between the top of side supportingplates 98 and outermost two bracing pieces 108, respectively.

To provide astrong connection from which to lift the hover 90 and tospread the weight ofthe hover when it is being lifted throughout theframework, a pair of side external bracing members 114 are providedcoextensive with the two outermost bracing members 108 and joinedthereto and to the skin 110 by any suitable means such as welding, nutsand bolts, or the like. Another external cross piece 116 is joined atits ends by bracket members 118 to the bracing members 114 by nuts andbolts, welding, or other suitable means. Along its length, cross piece116 is joined to the intermediate bracing pieces 108 through skin memberby nuts and bolts 120. The tabs 58 described below are joined to thecross piece 116 to thereby provide the connection between the hover andthe hover lifting means.

Means are provided to close the rear trailing end of the hover from thelevel of rear cross piece 102 to the ground. To this end, a plurality ofarcuate skirts 122 are provided, each having its upper end joined torear cross piece 102 by a hinge 124. Between each pair ofhinges, therear cross piece 102 carries a skirt stop 126 which prevents the skirtfrom swinging downwardly further than with its lower end on the ground,to thereby preventjamming and to protect the skirts. In the event of thehover running over a rock or other obstacle, only the skirt in line withthe obstacle will be moved, thereby minimizing the amount of heat thatis lost from under the hover. After passing the obstacle, the skirt willreturn to the position of H6. 5 by its own weight. if necessary ordesirable. the hinges 124 may be provided with torsion springs to biasthe skirts to the closed position.

Means are provided to supply heat under the hover for cultivation. Tothis end, manifold 92 is mounted on plate 104 in a cut out thereinextending between a pair of manifold locating flanges 128. The manifoldis held in position by means of a plurality of straps 130 joined toplate 104 or extensions thereof, not shown, by means of hinges 132. Theupper ends of the three straps 130 are held on upper front cross piece106 by means of nut and bolt assemblies 104. Thus, the entire manifoldmay be rotated about its own axis within straps 130 when the straps areloosened. Rotation of the manifold will effect heat and flame patternsand conditions under the hover, and this versatility of the apparatus ofthe invention is an important advantage in that it permits use of anoptimum angle of incident of the flame on the field, accommodating thedifferent kinds of flames that will be produced by different fuels.

Tests have shown that angles in the r ange of 202 tojggff verticaltowards the reai ofthe hover are highly satisfactory when using No. '2fuel oil at about 100 p.s.i., and 30 p.s.i. t M st-prima y?" na' a M Themanifold 92 proper comprises a lengthof reiarv'e'ry large diameter thinwall pipe 134, which is closed at both ends. Pipe 134 carries six flamespreaders 136 each joined, as by screws, nuts and bolts, or the like, toa suitably formed .opcning 138 in pipe 134. Each flame spreader 136comprises upper and lower walls 140 which converge towards each othermoving outwardly from the manifold, and by a pair of side walls 142which are arcuate and curve towards each other from opening 138 untilabout the location of the nozzle, and are thereafter flared outwardlyaway from each other, thus providing a venturi portion, in a horizontalplane, at the vicinity of the nozzle. As is obvious from FIGS. 7 and 8,each flame spreader 136 tends to compress the flame in the verticaldirection and spread the flame in the horizontal direction. Tests haveshown that the flame spreaders yield advantages in the apparatus of theinvention in that they produce a highly uniform distribution of heatacross the width of the hover. When the apparatus was tested without theflame spreaders, the results were not as satisfactory.

Means are provided to create a mist of fuel and air and to ignite thismist to create the heat and flame used in cultivation. To this end, anozzle holder 144 extends between the upper and lower walls 140 of theflame spreader and is joined thereto by any suitable means. Nozzleholder 144 carries a nozzle 146 which is preferably of the typedisclosed and claimed in U. 8. Pat. No. 3,373,94 l by Orvis A. Davis,Sr. one of the coinventors of the present invention, and assigned to thesame assignee as the present invention. The nozzle of that patentproduces a flat spray which is advantageously utilized in the apparatusof the present invention, because, among other reasons, it can operatewith a wide variety of different fuels thus lending further versatilityto the apparatus of the invention. A pair of conventional electricalignitors 148 are pro vided, and they are held in proper location withrespect to the exit end of the nozzle by means of a bracket 150extending from the vicinity of opening 138 inwardly into the manifold.The ignitors 148 are connected to suitable electric wires [52, oneofwhich is grounded.

Means are provided to supply air under a regulated pressure from line 38and fuel under pressure from line 26 to each nozzle 146. To this end, anair distribution pipe 154 runs along the outside of the manifold at theside thereof opposite the openings 138. A fuel distributor pipe 156, ofsmaller diameter than pipe 154, runs substantially coextensivclytherewith but in closely spaced relation to the manifold pipe 134. Fuelpipes 26 and 156 are joined together by a section of flexible tubing anda quick disconnect coupling, both diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 6and designated 158. Similarly, air pipes 38 and 154 are joined togetherby a length of flexible tubing and a quick disconnect coupling asindicated at 160 in FIG, 6. These two flexible connections facilitaterotation of the manifold pipe, with the flame spreaders thereon, asdescribed above, as well as permitting removal of the entire manifold ifsuch should be desired for servicing, replacement of parts, and thelike. As shown in FIG. 7, a fuel delivery pipe 156a runs to each nozzleand nests substantially concentrically within a primary air deliverypipe 154a to each nozzle. The junction to cause this nesting is providedby suitable conventional hardware fittings at the point of entry of theair and oil pipes through the wall of manifold pipe 134.

Means are provided to supply a high volume of low pressure air to theinside of manifold pipe 134 for passage through the flame spreaders 136to envelope the fuel and primary air mist exiting from the nozzle.Experiments have shown that absent the supply of secondary aircombustion will not always occur and at best a very inefficient, highsmoke, low heat, flame results, in that the flame tends to suffocateunder the hover. To this end, manifold pipe 134 is provided with threerelatively large diameter sleeves 162 spaced substantially equidistantlyalong the manifold pipe. An individually adjustable volume of air fromthe blower, described below in the power group, is supplied to eachsleeve 162 via large diameter hoses 164. One wire of each pair of wires152 is conveniently grounded directly to the manifold, or via one of apair of bus or distribution wires 166 which extend from the source ofelectrical energy in the power group described below. Also, one of eachpair of wires 152 may be directly and separately connected to the sourceof electrical energy in the power group described below.

The power group 16 is mounted on a stand 168 of inverted U" crosssection, with the legs welded to the top of the pressure vessel 20. Thepower group consists of an internal com bustion engine 170 having a fueltank 172, a compressor 174, a blower 176, a fly wheel 178, and a magneto180. The output shaft of engine 170 is connected by suitabletransmission means, such as a plurality of V" belts 182 to fly wheel178. For safety purposes, belts 182 are provided with a protective cover184, Compressor 174, magneto 180, fly wheel 17B, and an intermediatepulley or sheave 186 are on a common shaft 188. The drive pulley 190 ofblower 176 is joined to pulley 186 by suitable transmission means 192.Magneto 180 is supported outboard of flywheel 178 by a bracket 194supported on one of the cradles 40. Communication between the outletside of the compressor and the inside of the pressure vessel isdiagrammatically indicated at 196 in FIG. 6, which also includes theno-load starting check valve.

Another advantage of the power train of the power group as shown in theupper portion of FIG. 6 is that the apparatus of the invention may beeasily modified for use with a different prime mover. For example, anelectric motor and speed reducer set or hydraulic motor could besubstituted for internal combustion engine 70, the only modificationbeing, possibly, changing the lengths of the belts or other powertransmission means 182.

Blower 176 is of the squirrel cage, high volume, low pressure type, andthe outlet plenum of said blower is provided with three individual exitpipes 198. Each pipe 198 is connected to one of the hoses 164 andcarries a damper or butterfly valve 200, whereby the flow to eachportion of the manifold pipe 134 is individually adjustable. Because thesecondary air requirement of some of the nozzles is greater than that ofothers, the provision of adjustment of the secondary air permitscreation of uniform flame and heat conditions under the hover. When sixsimilar nozzles are used. the middle ones require more secondary airthan the outer ones because the middle ones are insulated by the flameto either side of them, and also because the outer ones get somesecondary air by leakage under and around the hover. The adjustablesecondary air feature is also important when and if it should be desiredto use sets of different capacity nozzles. This might be desirable, forexample, with crops other than alfalfa where the heat requirements maybe different.

While the invention has been described in detail above, it is to beunderstood that this detailed description is by way of example only, andthe protection granted is to be limited only within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In combination, a manifold assembly, a nozzle carried by saidmanifold assembly, means to supply pressurized primary air andpressurized fuel to said nozzle from said manifold assembly, means tosupply secondary air through said manifold assembly around the outsideof said nozzle, an energy source, and means to connect said energysource in driving relation to said pressurized primary air supply means,said pressurized fuel supply means, and said secondary air supply means.

2. The combination of claim 1, support means, a hover assembly carriedby said support means and carrying said manifold assembly, whereby theflame issuing from said nozzle is contained under said hover to create arelatively small region of relatively high temperature.

3. The combination of claim 2, said nozzle comprising a flat spraynozzle, and flame spreader means extending from said manifold aroundsaid nozzle and adapted to further horizontally flatten the flameissuing from the nozzle.

4. The combination of claim 1, electrical ignition means in operativerelation with the exit end of said nozzle, means to supply electricalenergy to said ignition means, and means to connect said electricalenergy supply means in driving relation to said energy source.

5. The combination of claim 4, said electrical energy supply meanscomprising electrical wires running from a source of electrical energyto the vicinity of said nozzle, and means to run said wires through saidmanifold assembly.

6. The combination of claim 4, said energy source comprising an internalcombustion engine, said electrical supply means comprising a magneto,said primary air supply means comprising an air compressor, said secondair supply means comprising a blower, a shaft interconnecting the inputshaft of said magneto and said compressor, a flywheel on said connectingshaft, a pulley on said connecting shaft, means to transmit power fromthe output of said internal combustion engine to said flywheel, andmeans to transmit power from said pulley to said blower.

7. The combination of claim 1, said means to supply pressurized primaryair and pressurized fuel to said nozzle comprising a pressure vesselhaving a volume of fuel therein less than the volume of said pressurevessel and an air compressor adapted to supply pressurized air to thespace in said pressure vessel above the level of said fuel therein,conduit means at the upper portion of said pressure vessel to supplypressurized primary air to said nozzle and conduit means at the lowerportion of said pressure vessel to supply said pressurized fuel to saidnozzle.

8. The combination of claim 7, means to mount said air compressor on thepressure vessel with the output side of said compressor in communicationwith the space in the upper portion of said pressure vessel above thefuel in said pressure vessel.

9. The combination of claim 7, said pressure vessel being of generallycylindrical configuration with its longitudinal axis disposed generallyhorizontally, an opening formed in an end portion of said pressurevessel, said pressurized air conduit means comprising a snorkel tubeextending from said opening into said pressure vessel and terminating ata location in closely spaced relation to the highest portion of saidpressure vessel, whereby the possibility of fuel being drawn into saidair conduit means as said pressure vessel is moved is substantiallyeliminated.

It). The combination of claim 2, said hover assembly comprising aleading end and a trailing end, means to mount said manifold assembly atthe leading end of said hover, a plurality of hingedly mounted skirtscomprising the trailing end of said hover, whereby when said hoverpasses over an obstacle only a skirt directly in line with the obstacleis moved to thereby minimize the heat loss caused by opening of thetrailing end of said hover.

II. The combination of claim 3, said hover assembly comprising a leadingend and a trailing end, means to mount said manifold assembly at theleading end of said hover, said manifold assembly comprising a length ofrelatively large diameter thin wall pipe having its axis disposedperpendicular to the normal direction of travel of said hover, saidmanifold mounting means comprising a plurality of hingedly mountedstraps joined to said hover and substantially encircling said manifoldpipe, a plurality of said nozzles and a plurality of said flame spreadermeans, whereby said manifold pipe may be rotated about the axis of saidpipe within said straps to change the angle of impingement of the flamesissuing from said nozzles and flame spreaders with respect to the groundunder said hover.

12. The combination of claim 2, said secondary air supply meanscomprising a blower, said hover assembly comprising a leading end and atrailing end, said manifold assembly comprising an elongated manifoldpipe mounted on the leading end of said hover with its axis disposedgenerally perpendicular to the normal direction of travel of said hover,a plurality of hoses extending from the air outlet of said blower tovarious locations along said manifold pipes and means to individuallyadjust the amount of air flowing through each of said hoses.

13. The combination of claim 2, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on saidsupport means and adapted to lift said hover assembly up off of theground with respect to said support means, said support means comprisingmeans to connect said support means to a vehicle for moving thecombination, and means to connect said hydraulic cylinder to saidvehicle for operation of said cylinder by the hydraulic system of saidvehicle.

14. The combination of claim 2, said hover assembly comprising a leadingend and a trailing end. said manifold assembly comprising an elongatedmanifold pipe disposed on the leading end of said hover perpendicular tothe normal direction of travel of said hover, said primary air supplymeans and said fuel supply means each including a distribution piperunning generally parallel to said manifold pipe, a plurality of saidnozzles in said manifold assembly, a primary air delivery pipe and afuel delivery pipe running from each of said primary air and fueldistribution pipes to each of said nozzles, but each pair of primary airand fuel delivery pipes to each nozzle being nested within each other.

15. The combination of claim 14, said fuel delivery pipe being nestedwithin said primary air delivery pipe.

16. In combination, a manifold assembly, a nozzle carried by saidmanifold assembly, means to supply pressurized primary air andpressurized fuel to said nozzle from said manifold assembly, means tosupply secondary air though said manifold assembly around the outside ofsaid nozzle, an energy source; means to connect said energy source indriving relation to said pressurized primary air supply means, saidpressurized fuel supply means, and said secondary air sup1pl means;electrical ignition means in operative relation wit t e exit end of saidnozzle, means to supply electrical energy to said ignition means, meansto connect said electrical energy supply means in driving relation tosaid energy source, and said electrical energy supply means comprisingelectrical wires running from a source ofelectrical energy to thevicinity of said nozzle.

